Treasures hidden in plain sight go on display

Three historic treasures have been reunited and put on display together at a museum in Scunthorpe.

A medieval paten – a plate used for holding the bread during a Eucharist – and an Elizabethan chalice, which were both from St Mary's Church in Barnetby-le-Wold, have joined the Barnetby font on display at North Lincolnshire Museum.

The historical significance of the items was uncovered after the rector of Barnetby-le-Wold, the Reverend Lee Gabel, used them during church livestreams during the Covid-19 pandemic, before keeping them in his office.

"We realised these objects really ought to be shared with the public," he said. "They should be seen and appreciated."

As services could not be held in church during the pandemic, Gabel live-streamed spiritual communions from his study every Sunday morning.

"To do this, I thought what I needed was a handy little chalice or anything that we might use in church," he said.

"I discovered that there was this nice handy little chalice and paten in the safe in St Barnabas Church, Barnetby, so I started to use that."

During services after the pandemic, he kept them in his study because slight damage to one of the items made it unsuitable for public use.

It was research by churchwarden Allison Thomas that uncovered the significance of the items.

"I was looking through a research folder and came across a photograph of this chalice and paten. They seemed familiar," she said.

"Then I noticed words such as 'pre-reformation' and 'medieval' written on the file. That got my attention."

When he realised the importance of the items, Gabel said: "I did feel a little bit of guilt and a little bit of shame.

"They were there just sitting on my desk for quite some time gathering dust and not being used, probably because I didn't realise what they actually were."

Experts identified the paten as dating from the 15th Century and the chalice from the 16th Century.

Thomas added: "The objects are marvellous. The face of Jesus on the paten is extraordinary and the changing light brings out different details and patterns across the surface."

The two items will join one of the finest surviving Romanesque lead fonts, which is already on display at North Lincolnshire Museum.

Carol Stothard, churchwarden of St Barnabas, said: "It's lovely to have them connected with the font.

"They're both from the old church of St Mary's, so they belong together, reunited."

North Lincolnshire Museum is free to enter and open daily.

It is also hosting an exhibition featuring large-scale projections of the Bayeux Tapestry alongside Norman artifacts from its own collection.

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